Rack for penholders, &amp;c.



Patented 0st. 24, I899.

J. ADAIR.

FIG..3.

FIE.B.

FIG. 5.

No. 635,282. Patented Oct. 24, I899.

J. ADAIB.

RACK FOR PENHOLDERS, 8w.

(Application filed. Dec. 2, 1898.)

' 2 Sheets-Sheet- 2.

(N0 Model.)

FIG.7.

FIGJD.

FIG. 8.

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STATES JAMES ADAIR, OF LEET, PENNSYLVANIA.

RACK FOR P ENHOLDERS, 840.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,282, dated October 24, 1899. Application filed D m e 2, 1898. Serial No. 698,062. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES ADAIR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leet township, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Racks for Penholders, 850., of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in that class or kind of racks for penholders, pencils, &c., described and claimed in application Serial No. 698,061, filed of even date herewith, and pertains more particularly to the manner of securing the clamping-fingers to the supporting baseor block, to the shape or contour of the fingers whereby they are rendered more efficient in holding tapering penholders in proper position, and to other features of construction hereinafter more particularly described and claimed' In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved rack. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, and Fig. 4 an end elevation, of a modification of the rack. Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 3 of a further modification. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the same. Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to Figs. 3 and at, illustrating a modified construction of the base. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a further modification 0f the base, and Fig. 10 is a transverse section of the same.

In the practice of my invention the fingers I 2, which are formed of resilient wire or narrow metal bands, are bent and so secured to the base or block 3 that portions thereof proj ect upwardly from opposite sides of the base. These fingers may be formed from a single piece of wire or. metal strip by winding the latter spirally around a suitable core or mandrel, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, &c., or each finger may be made independent of the others bysuitably bending a short length of wire, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In order to avoid sharp points, when the fingers are made independent of eachother the ends of the fingers are bent over, as shown. I

When the fingers are so bent and secured to the base that their centers of curvature are in line with each other, so that all the fingers project uniformly from both sides of the base, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the fingers will not take at all times as firm a hold on tapering articles as is desirable. In order to insure a certainty of grip, alternate fingers, as 2 2, &c. are laterally shifted with reference to the adjoining fingers 2 2 2, &c., as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6. As will be seen 'by reference to these figures, the portions of fingers 2 2, 850., project farther from one side of the block or base than the other and that this greater projection is reversed in the alternate fingers 2 2, &c. It is characteristic of this construction that the shorter portions of the finger being near the base will be less flexible and will not therefore be deflected as much laterally as the opposite portion when a penholder is placed between adjacent fingers. When both portions of the fingers project equally from the base, the lateral movement of one side of the finger will eifect the same or nearly the same lateral movement of the opposite side of the finger. Hence the larger portion of a tapering article will so deflect one side or portion of a finger that the opposite side or por tion will not firmly grasp a smaller portion of a tapering article. This difference of gripping action is entirely avoided by staggering the fingers in the manner described. The fingers may be rendered more rigid, so as to grasp the articles more firmly, by making the fingers elliptical at their sides, as shown in Fig. 2.

The base or block is formed by casting or pressing glass,metal, or other similar material in a suitably-shaped mold and around the portions of the fingers designed to be secured in the block or base. In order that the fingers may be held rigidly in position, the portions to be inclosed'by the base are suitably prepared,by methods well known in the arts, so as to insure the adherence by welding or otherwise of the material of the base to the fingers.

The base is preferably made substantially triangular in cross-section and the fingers so attached that the upper portion of the base will project -up between the sides of the fingers, as shown. When the fingers are made independent of each other, the portions within the base are so shaped as to provide an irregular portion 4, so as to insure the locking of the fingers in position, as shown in Figs. 3

and 4. As shown in Figs. 7 and S, the base may be made hollow, and if such shell is not sufficiently heavy the interior may be filled with some cheaper material than the shell.

The base may be formed of wood, paper, or other light material, in which case cavities are proy ided for the reception of metal necessary to impart the desired weight to the base, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. One of these cavities should be so located as to be traversed by the fingers, and the latter firmly locked in position by filling the cavity with metal after the fingers are arranged in position.

IVhile it is preferred to use the staggered fingers in connection with a base substantially of the shape shown, the invention is not, as regards the staggered fingers, so limited; but other forms of support, which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, are hereby included under the broad terms of the claims.

I claim herein as my invention 1. In a rack for penholders, &c., the combination of a base substantially triangular in cross-section and fingers rigidly secured to the base in such manner that a portion of the latter will project between the sides of the fingers and form in connection therewith troughs or grooves for pencils, &c., substantially as set forth.

2. In a rack for penholders, &c., the combination of a shell-like base substantially triangular in cross-section, and fingers rigidly secured to the base in such manner that a portion of the latter will project between the sides of the fingers and form in connection therewith troughs or grooves for pencils, 6150., substantially as set forth.

3. In a rack for penholders, &c., the combination of a base or support and a series of fingers, alternate fingers being arranged on the base or support out of line with the other fingers, substantially as set forth.

- 4. In a rack for penholders, &c., the combination of a base or support and a series of fingers having elliptieally-shaped sides so arranged on the base or support that alternate fingers are staggered or out of line with the other fingers, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES ADAIR.

Witnesses:

DARW'IN S. WoLcoTT, F. E. GAITHER. 

